Andy Monfried's views on the Internet, Music, Family, and passion's that make life a trip.... People call me passionate, and energetic for things I believe in. Let's see if this blog can capture my focus on topics that are important TO ME. Might they be important to you?

There has always been a set of lyrics in the middle of ONE song that rips at me.

The lyrics were written by, Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia composed the music. This was the combination that was the POWER behind the Grateful Dead. Garcia & Hunter....were the DUO that wrote many of the classic Dead standards...

One song in particuliar, and ONE VERSE always STINGS me.

It's from the song, "Cat's Under the Stars"

The first and second verse, are this.

"Cats on the blacktop
Birdy in the treetop
Someone plays guitar that
sounds like clavinette
I ain't ready yet
to go to bed
Think I'll take a walk
downtown instead

Cats on the bandstand
Give 'em each a big hand
Anyone who sweats that hard
must be all right
No one wants a fight
No black eye
Just another cat beneath
the stars tonight"

But, out of nowhere, Hunter comes up with this line that packs a wallop. It hurdles me from where I may be, into another stratosphere.

Now imagine, me with a Walkman 15 years ago, hitting rewind OVER AND OVER again..to hear this 10 second dissertation of the verse.

In the car, I hit reverse, to relisten numerous times....it still happens 20+ years after my introduction to the song.

This is the VERSE.

"A satin blouse unbuttoning
satin blouse unbuttoning,
Time is a stripper
Doing it just for you
Time is a STRIPPER, doing it just for you....
Just for YOU."

Why this "hits me" I'm not sure? The jam by Garcia after this verse, is a 6-10 minute masterpiece, that I believe is KICK STARTED, by the verse itself....

I almost feel as though, (selfishly) that the line was written FOR ME, by Mr. Hunter. (I know it was not, but we can dream, eh?)

Time is a STRIPPER. There is no greater stripper than time. It is the ultimate judge, arbiter, and dealer, when it comes to life.

And, the words could not be more true.

The reason the words hit me in the soul, is because, I guess at a young age, I developed a great respect for age, culture, and history.

This FORCED me to be more cognizant of TIME, developments, and evolution.

For instance, I knew at a early age, I liked the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Mama's and The Papa's. Many of my friends were listening to "Freak Out" - or popular bands of the late 70's, early 80's -- I was not attracted to it, nor did I spend much of my time listening to it. I had "Pet Sounds" and Seargant Peppers on my record player, when my contemporaries, had Disco.

I knew, when I got a call on Sept 19th, 1981, at 1:00pm -- from a friend at the time, named Bill Murray, to go see Simon and Garfunkel play in Central Park. I realized then, that there were NOT too many kids our age, even contemplating, or plotting to go to Central Park - to see a band reunite, that WE LOVED...but, the band was 15 years BEFORE our time. It was not suppose to be our demographic, but it was.

I was AWARE of time, and my limited place in it.

Now, I hear my kids. I am watching them grow up. I see TIME before my eyes.

Verses like this, TRANSCEND music for me.

Time is a STRIPPER, doing it just for you.

Just for you, and NO ONE else. Time, is the most valued, cherished, perishable resource we have.
Use it wisely.

You know why I can write this?

For the first time in my professional career, I feel as though I'm ADDRESSING, and ACKNOWLEDGING, time, and all it's features and attributes.

It's not about money. It's about feeling good with what you are doing with time.

February 26, 2006

I've seen plenty about Dick Cheney, Guantanomo, and while in the UK last week, the beating of prisoners - with a video that was years old. Bascially, these 3 stories have been dominating our news cycle, OVER AND OVER again....and it's all negative, and deemed important by "people in the know." But, they keep harping on it, (Specifically, Editorial Boards of Major Newspapers, over and over - telling us all the negative stories of what's going on in the WAR in Iraq)

WHY IS THIS NOT MAKING "all the news that is fit to print?" (emphasis on small letters, for my former favorite newspaper- it does not deserve capital anything in my book) -- I must guess that a letter like this one does NOT fit their ideology. Specifically, a letter from a Iraqi elected official, PRAISING our soldiers for saving his town from Zarqawi, and the terrorist's gang, killing the town's citizens.

Here are some quick quotes from the letter to our soldiers...from this brave Iraqi Mayor.

"To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life.

To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months.

Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpses of children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zumar and Avgani finally destroyed them."

Why has this NOT made news? Why is a GOOD story, about our soldiers who are doing a VALIANT and AMAZING job -- not included in reporting by the NY Times, or Washington Post, in a way that YOU WOULD EVEN know that this letter existed?

February 24, 2006

I ask myself all the time, if I was hypothetically living in the Bay Area (SF) in 1964-1965, or in London in 1961 -- would I have been keen enough, to identify RAW talent at the time, and be in a position to HELP, as well as BE HELPED -- with either 2 groups. The Grateful Dead or The Rolling Stones?

Here is the question:

"Would I have put myself in a position to, in a earlier time with either band, to HAVE FUN with them, and financially benefit -- while HELPING THEM GET BIG?" Undoubtedly, they would have gotten huge on their own, but AHHHH the fun, the magical ride, the ZEITGEST.....it's hard to imagine, but something I think about often...THE JOURNEY OF GETTING THERE... )

I'll never have the answer, because it's past tense, and of course hypothetical.

I was NOT going to let that chance pass me by again.

In Feb of 2000, I was helping a few guys in the Tenderlion district, of San Francisco, open up the 1st Advertising.com office. (it was the rise of the dot.com craze and the only place that could be afforded was a run down old restaraunt, turn into a .com office.....)

I went with a fellow named Jack M, (great guy, and early employee of Advertising.com) and we treked, to the Great American Music Hall to see a band named "Steve Kimock Band." www.kimock.com

We had many drinks at a dive bar before the show, and Jack was MY GUEST, although he went becasue I prodded him....I thank him for joining me to this day.

I was mid- Feb 2000, (Feb 17-18) a run of I think 2 nights at the place, a venue that was made famous for me, by the 1975 comeback of the Grateful Dead after a "brief retirement.." The Dead played a run of classic shows there, that are amongst some of the best 1975 concerts.

Back to the Steve Kimock Band.

Jack was not that impressed by the music, the scene... he left after 3 songs....he "stumbled out..." ( I think Jack and coke?) I stayed, grooving by myself, in the back of the floor.

I was blown away.

Something inside of me had perished on August 9th 1995, the day I was driving in my car, and my wife called to tell me that Jerry Garcia had died. It was 11:04 am, I was listening to a song called, "Comes A Time.." = I was traveling north on the Garden State Parkway....

For 5 years, I was "musically homeless.."

Until that night of Feb 17. I was re-awakened, blown away, and stomped on my head, by a little guy - SHREDDING on guitar. He played tunes, I had never heard, but, I felt like I knew all the songs - I felt full of inspiration..and HOPE.

This touched my soul. I was passionate, full of energy, and walking on air -- as I left the concert hall that night.

Needless to say, I came back the next night...

I met many great people, from Larry N. (who sent me a batch of shows) to Mark W. and Brad B - who have been more than generous to me, in many ways.

I have also been lucky enough to replace my "lack of Grateful Dead" touring, with semi-annual trips around the country to see this band play -- and it keeps me looking forward to "getting on the road.."

This past summer it was Colorado, with 3 nights, from one night in Aspen, to the back country for 2 more shows. I got to fly fish with my buddy Kenny by day...and see the Steve Kimock Band at night.

Priceless.

I had originally titled this post, Music and Investing, and I'd like to leave it that way....

I will write more on how I came to produce THIS (click here) in the not too distant future --- I was Not going to let my regret, about MISSING the early days, and the meteroric jouney of the Grateful Dead, and The Rolling Stones happen again....(I referenced it in the 1st paragraph of this post)...
I know nothing about investing in music. Still do not.

It was NOT award winning, it's a bit dull - but, it was my 1st shot -- and my initial test of doing something on film. It will never get high praise, it will never win awards -- but many years from now.....I can show my grandchildren something I tried to do, with little to no background, and show my "risk taking side...." (while I puff out my chest, and tell them to be a bit improvisational, like I was in my early days...)

A bit about the show that will be streamed tonight, on YOUR computer.... at 9:30pm EST.

"This is a quick note to invite you to tune in at DigitalSoundboard.net
Friday night (Feb. 24) for the live stream of Porter-Batiste-Stoltz with
special guest Steve Kimock from Mexicali Blues in Teaneck, NJ. We will cut
over from DigitalSoundboard Radio to the live stream from Mexicali at
around 9:30PM (EST).

More about the two night stand…

Most people are familiar with the initials PBS as an abbreviation for
Public Broadcasting System. Here PBS stands for the all-star power/funk
trio of Porter-Batiste-Stoltz. PBS is three uniquely talented musicians
forging the New Orleans sound into the 21st century. Bassist George Porter
Jr., drummer David Russell Batiste Jr.and guitarist Brian Stoltz bring to
the stage an explosive blend of Supersonic Funk.

Being three of the four funky Meters and all natives of New Orleans, they
continue their journey laying down deep-rooted grooves not meant for the
faint of heart. Porter-Batiste-Stoltz are well sought after throughout the
jam-nation and today continue to solidify their place in New Orleans as
well as the rest of the world's rich musical history."

If you like funk, a great GEETAR, and fun, check it out.

9:30pm tonight. Turn up your computer. They rock.

This is Part 1 of this series, more to follow on the "investing side" -- enjoy tonight's webcast...I will.

February 22, 2006

In complete contradiction to my previous post about the power of Google, and their tools...a study was released this week, polling marketers about their conversion stats. The marketers were buying media on search engines...thru WebSideStory.

"Web analytics firm WebSideStory released a study showing the following conversion stats across their many clients:

Conversion rate is defined as the number of clicks, it takes, to generate a action...it might be sale,lead, or download. (so based on the above info, 6.17 out of every 100 clicks in AOL traffic, generates a conversion for the advertiser)

So, it would appear that Google is the least effective. AOL is most effective for ROI.

This is garbage data.

I will go into a few of the reason why it means nothing.

1 - Google is the biggest
2 - Google "pushes" data throught AdSense, meaning they buy media to SHOW relevant contextual keywords - so this data is flawed.
3 - Google has more "testing" going on, so marketers will naturally test more variations of themes, as well as price points -- becasue their bidding system is more robust.
4 - Everyone likes to pile on the big guy.
5 - The study DID not measure data beyond a click, meaning that - if someone clicked on a link in Google for airlines, and went back within 48 hours to complete the sale, it did NOT track latient conversion.....CONVERSION TAKING PLACE AFTER THE CLICK.

But hey, if I worked at AOL, (which I do not) I'd do a massive press release -- I mean MASSIVE...to tout this data that AOL is #1 in conversion rates, from their search traffic...

I'd make sure it (the release) was in the Wall Street Journal, and nearly every place media folks would be.

Guess the AOL/Goog partnership will pay off afterall, for BOTH parties.

I don't believe this data at all, but, what the heck, --- America Online Media Sales should turn this into a HUGE win for their company, and run with some good dat athat supports the fine people at AOL.

February 20, 2006

The Beach party that I linked to in my previous post....can be found HERE

While I was on the page, reading about the RIO beach party -- I noticed a GOOGLE link on the side of the page...

The Google link (ad) said " Hear all Your Favorite Rolling Stones Songs, Live At a Simulcast Theatre Near You."

I clicked on the link, interested to see what I would find...(contextual and relevant advertising - it interested me mildly)

It brought me to THIS SITE...put in your ZIP CODE. (for the Rolling Stones)

The Stones Show (concert from yesterday in RIO), is being simulcast next Tuesday, the 28th of Feb, in a movie theater, and it is playing both in NYC, as well as, less than 10 miles from my house, in New Rochelle.

Wanna know where I will be next Tuesday night?

Here is what clinched the deal, and what the site sent me upon entering ONLY my zip code -- "REGAL NEW ROC CITY STADIUM 18 PLUS IMAX - 10 miles from YOUR ZIP CODE,
33 Le Count Place New Rochelle NY 10801"

Let me describe why this is fantastic, for the advertiser, the website that I was on -- as well as the company who facilitated -- GOOGLE.

1 - I was on a site reading about the Rolling Stones concert this past weekend in Brazil. A topic I am VERY interested in.

2 - The story was content that I desired, and choose to read.

3 - The advertising on the page was DIRECTLY relevant to the content I was on. (placed by Google)

4 - Google placed the ad, I clicked on the link.

5 - I liked the product because ALL THEY ASKED ME FOR WAS A ZIP CODE TO PROVE THEIR VALUE TO ME...(rather than ask for a ton of personal information, before I knew if they had value)

6 - I became a customer, and bought what was offered.

7 - Google facilitated the SALE, the website is happy, and the advertiser is thrilled, and the consumer (ME) is psyched.

8 - This is why Google, their data, and their future -- as well as their current valuation is amazing, and rightfully so.

The not to distant future...

What I just described to you is CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT ADVERTISING -- meaning simply, I was on a site reading about the Rolling Stones, and I was shown Rolling Stones advertising. Simple, yet powerful.

The future, and coming quickly is BEHAVIORAL TARGETING.
Example, I'm on a site reading about SPORTS, NBA Scores, and all of a sudden I get a advertisment about THE ROLLING STONES -- because it was based on my previous behavior, (remeber I was looking at Rolling Stones information) not ONLY, the current content.

This is the difference between CONTEXTUAL and BEHAVIORAL targeting. The ability to show advertising based on previous behavior, no matter what site you are on.

Make sense?

Good, because Behavioral Targeting is the future of the internet...and the ability to show and monetize advertising in this fashion, is why the "addressiblity" of the internet has yet to even BEGIN.

February 19, 2006

While in London, I stayed at a hotel, that had a computer in the lobby, next to the bar.

I worked from this computer at night, when I got back for the day, sent out email, surfed a bit, and wrote a few shorts posts on this blog.

While doing this, the manager of the hotel and I struck up a conversation. He was Lebanese, and lived in London for the past 5 years. He was a from a small town on the outskirts of Beirut, and a Muslim. He was nicely dressed, and was very, very friendly. We struck up a conversation about how he had lived in New Jersey, with relatives, years ago. He chatted about issues such as-- his wife and kids, his job at the hotel -- (the owner of the hotel had suffered a heart attack on New Years Eve, and he has assumed many of his responsibilities.) The guy was cordial, and after all it was close to 10pm, and it was only the two of us in the lobby. He stood close to me while I was seated at the computer.

I surfed upon one of my favorite sites, covering the Mid-East, (quite intentionally) -- and asked him his opinion on its contents, and headlines. (it is a Israeli site)

He sat in my chair, adjusted his seat, and read for 5 minutes, very intently.

His first response, while I fiddled with my blackberry was...

"You know, I can't pinpoint it, but, there are large forces at play, to discredit, and harm Islam and the Muslims of the world...."

"Jews, Bush, your so called Democracy -- aimed at making us (Islam) look bad - and humiliate ourselves."

I said to him, "This is why I am alarmed, I consider you a MODERATE muslim, by the way you dress, your job, and your appearance - but can you cannot for one minute consider that it may be the Arab, and Muslim world responsible for many of its ills, problems, and failures?"

He did not disagree.

He readily admitted, and addressed the corruption and the crime perpetrated against the Arab community BY THE ARAB leadership - and claimed that the fundamentalist RISE - is directly attributed to the "average citizens" having no where else to turn. He also said in European countries, Muslim would relish to be treated as second class citizens, but their are so relegated to the bottom of the food chain, that they feel "less than human.."

I was stunned, into asking for a beer -- (which, the bar was 5 feet away, empty, no one but us in the bar/lobby area, and the hum of the beer refrigerator, the conversation, and the knowledge I was gaining, made me THIRST for a cold ALE)

He continued.

The forces at work, "are aimed at turning us against ourselves, and destroying us (ISLAM) from within."

I poured my can of beer into a tall glass, he was sitting at the computer, in my chair, directly in front of the terminal -- with this site, in his view, he called it propoganda -- but continued to glance at it...and read the headlines.

Hamas, 9-11-01, (9-11 was a inside job, NOT done by Arabs) -- to the entire, Iraq WAR -- every instance, every question was met with - this type of response.....

"this is the constant effort for the US and Israel, to discredit, and dominate Muslims, make us weak, look bad -- keep us below living standards of the world, and keep our only natural resource for the WEST ...OIL."

I sat in silence listening, for more than 10 minutes...his tone was NEVER agressive, (after all I was a customer) -- I think he felt as though he was educating me, and CONVERTING me to see his side -- which I was clearly GETTING his view. (not agreeing, but relishing the opportunity to hear his views)

At one point, I cut him off.

I said, as I sat forward in my chair -- "how did you feel last year, when those Russian schoolchildren were taken hostage, and murdered in their school, by the hundreds, in the name of Islam?"

I went on, "the beheading of innocents, the bus bombing in London, the train bombing in Madrid, (I purposely stayed away from Israel) -- these acts aimed at INNOCENT people who are not in the conflict...?"

Then, he said what stunned me, "WE ARE ALL IN THIS CONFLICT."

I had to pounce, and get for the first time, and little aggressive in this discussion...

"Is this a HOLY WAR, is this the beginning of a greater world conflict?"

His answer was that the US and Israel, have brought this upon the world -- and that Muslims are simply defending themselves.

The Hamas election victory, is just the beginning, he went on...Egypt will be next, and when the normally peaceful countries of Lebanon, Syrian and Jordan, will all fall to the "fundamentalist" forces --- the Muslim view of dominance can begin to DEFEND itself, against the "forces against it"....

I then realized, he and his religion, viewed themselves as VICTIMS -- out to defend their honor, their religion -- and NOT BRING SHAME, IN THEIR TIME ON THE EARTH, TO ISLAM. He clearly stated - that in centuries past, (he spoke about history a lot) --that this PARTICULIAR TIME WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, was the time of the RESURGENCE of Islam. THE TIME HAD ARRIVED, and was brought here not by Muslims...but by EVIL forces -- (read, Jews and U.S) -- Muslims were just defending their religion - and FINALLY STANDING UP FOR THEMSELVES.

He felt as though he was educating me. He was giving me what I constantly preach --"perception matters and little else.." He was giving me, a foreigner, his views, opinions, and insight into perceptions DIRECTLY - that I rarely get to hear.

It was my turn.

I won't bore you with the details, but I did constantly ask - "where are the moderate Muslims....why is the Islam being represented by these hooligans in the streets, burning, looting, and murdering in the name of the Prophet Muhammed?"

The silent majority, as we in the WEST like to call it, DOES NOT exist.

I'm here to tell you, based on my views and opinions WE NEED TO LISTEN to SPOKEN WORDS, actions and inaction -- and interperet, BASED ON THEIR VIEWS...not filtered through our images and culture...

The gulf is wide, between Muslims, and the rest of the world.

The believe they are VICTIMS defending themselves, against EVIL.

This cartoon about the Prophet Muhammed that has resulted in protests, death and destruction..... as well as Iranian Nuclear Weapons -- and Hamas winning landslide victory in Gaza and the West Bank -- should be WAKE UP calls, to TALK honestly, of what is going on, as it relates, to what THEY VIEW AND BELIEVE IS COMING --impending WAR.

Where are the moderates Muslims, I ask you?

Any group that you have seen, or know about, protesting the hijacking of Islam?

You won't, and here is why -- it, THEY DO NOT exist.

London is a beautiful city, I learned alot, but most of all - I took away the simple truth .... the PERCEPTION of Muslims versus the rest of the world, is tragic, and simply put....dangerous.

February 17, 2006

Supreme Court Justice Mishael Heshin defines the Palestinian Authority as an enemy state de facto

February 13, 2006, 10:23 AM (GMT+02:00)

He rejected petitions to allow Palestinians married to Israelis to settle in Israel under the family reunification law as a loophole that would pose a risk to state security. "Just listen to daily declarations made by Hamas," Heshin said. "The Palestinian people chose Hamas, which seeks to destroy Israel, and they are citizens of an enemy state."

He asked why Israel should take risks with Israeli lives, any more than did England and America by admitting Germans during World War II. The judge said no one is preventing mixed couples from building a family, but they should live in Jenin. The right to life takes priority over any other consideration, he said.

February 16, 2006

Flying at 30,000 feet -- 3 hours into a trans Atlantic flight, I glance around at other passengers to see...

Most asleep, darkness, the glow of those TV screens on the backs of seats, after all it was probably 4am - and these travelers were weary, exhausted, and blankets out, reclined, pillows behind their heads......

Not me.

I had in the rotation LOUD on the Headphones - and thankfully, a few hours to actually enjoy.

How often is it that any of us get to do ALOT (in big chunks of time) things and activities we really love to do?

I guess as we get older it dwindles.

But, I cannot remember the last time I got to REALLY enjoy listening to, and getting heavy doses of something I love. (and listening to 4 complete performances in a row)

Traveling for work, on a flight I will typically have the laptop up, answering emails (so when I plug in, they all get fired off from my computer, and I get to respond to issues that did not get as much attention as they probably should have), catching up, or working on a proposal...but generally working.

Not last night, not for one nanosecond on Flight 17, did I work, or touch the laptop.

I'd like to take a moment to thank, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Steve Kimock, and Jerry Garcia...(do you see a common thread?) for making me smile, get in to a GREAT frame of mind, which I remain in, a few hours later...and allowing me to remain awake for the duration of the flight - and NEVER EVER get tired last
night, while all those around me were sleeping soundly.

Imagine, last night on Virgin Atlantic...2am -- my head bopping, getting up to dance in the aisles, (ok, a little Stella Artois to prime) -- complete silence, darkness, my BIG headphones on -- and sleeping business travelers all around...but, the architects keeping me, in bliss, and FEELING AWESOME, great energy eminating from seat 20c.

That's why music is so important to my soul, state of mind -- and path on the walk of my life.

It continues to amaze me, and I often think about it, (I certainly did this morning) -- how music plays SUCH a pivotal role in my existence....

"One watch by night, one watch by day
If you get confused, listen to the music play"